Researchers from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health surveyed the demand for medical and mental health care from 1,211 gay men registered with a particular health clinic in the 12 months prior to the change, and the 12 months afterwards.

They found a 13% drop in healthcare visits after the law was enacted. There was a reduction in blood pressure problems, depression and “adjustment disorders”, which the authors claimed could be the result of reduced stress.

I guess it’s not that surprising that discriminating against people is bad for them – in many different ways. But then, we all know that if we let gay people get married our society would crumble into mass social disorder. Or, um, maybe just more things like would happen:

The survey found that nearly 1 in 5 women (18.3%) and 1 in 71 men (1.4%) have been raped at some time in their lives. …

One in 6 women (16.2%) and 1 in 19 men (5.2%) experienced stalking at some point during their lifetime. Most female victims (66.2%) and about 40% of male victims were stalked by a current or former intimate partner.

Severe physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner was experienced by roughly 1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%).

Given these figures, it can seem odd to see the report as generally saying that roughly 1 in 3 women, and 1 in 4 men, have experienced rape, stalking and/or physical violence by an significant other. However, there is a difference between the unqualified physical violence of the summary and severe physical violence, with the latter occurring for 1 in 7 men. Even that figure is horrible.